Welcome new recruits… to Cadal Corp! Secret Mode are delighted to announce that the developers behind the recently released Oil Strike ’75 were none other than the Sumo Digital Academy!

Created as a companion title to The Chinese Room’s Still Wakes the Deep, Oil Strike ’75 was the final assessment of the 2023/2024 cohort of the Academy. This platforming adventure game was released for free in the lead-up to the Still Wakes the Deep launch in June 2024, and left a trail of easter eggs for eagle-eyed players to discover the dark secrets that lurk within, and the dodgy dealings of the fictional Cadal Corp.

Developing Oil Strike ’75 enabled the Sumo Digital Academy to work in close partnership with the award-winning team at The Chinese Room to understand the themes, story, and tone of Still Wakes the Deep. The apprentices were able to pitch their ideas for what Oil Strike ’75 should be, how its gameplay mechanics should work, and suggest how it should reference its companion game.

On working with the Academy, John McCormack, Project Creative Director at The Chinese Room, said: “What we loved about the original pitch from the Sumo Academy was that they stuck to the brief and didn’t make it too complicated. The Apprentices took the time to really understand Still Wakes the Deep, and were clearly well-researched into the period setting and the technology of the time as this featured heavily in their pitch. They focused on the quality of the game throughout, without going for length or replayability, and remained passionate, imaginative, and respectful during the whole process.”

On the experience for the Academy, Dr Jacob Habgood, Academy Director at Sumo Digital said: “Oil Strike ’75 was a labour of love for the whole Sumo Digital Academy, and it was such a privilege to work with for Secret Mode and the Still Wakes the Deep team on this innovative project. Shipping a game is such an important part of the rites of passage for a game developer, and working with these teams granted the Academy apprentices the opportunity to learn, grow their skills and gain understanding of the whole development process.”

In Oil Strike ’75, you can earn while you learn as you solve puzzles, traverse platforms, and discover what it takes to run the rig. Utilise super-safe seismic exploration to discover oil wells deep beneath the ground. Hop in and pilot a helicopter to bring vital supplies from shore. Run, jump, and climb your way to the top of the rig as you build your drill longer and longer – just be sure to avoid the totally normal health hazards! Then use the money you’ve earned from completing jobs to drill as deep as you can and discover brand new oil deposits that will help keep your rig afloat and most importantly make your shareholders super happy.

Oil Strike ’75 is available to play for free on Steam. Still Wakes the Deep is available now for PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and with Game Pass for console and PC.

Now in its fourth year, the Sumo Digital Academy is Sumo Digital’s apprenticeship programme to create new pathways into the games industry for both programmers and technical artists. For more information about the Sumo Digital Academy – including how to apply for future cohorts – please visit the Sumo Academy website.

Want to work with an innovative team who love to think outside the box to create game dev excellence? Look no further! For more information about working with Sumo Digital, please visit the Services page.